A METHODOLOGY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF VIDEO GAME CULTURE

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . Since their emergence in the 1960s and their rise as a mass cultural phenomenon in the late 1970s, video games have evolved from a subcultural element into an important component of global popular culture. As products of the creative industry, they increasingly serve as іnstruments of soft power, disseminating the identity of their developers worldwide through narratives, visual imagery, and cultural codes. Successful projects demonstrate the potential of video games in shaping the international cultural image of states. Thus, the analysis of games as a medium and as a phenomenon of video game culture acquires scientific relevance. The article examines research approaches within game studies and offers methodological recommendations for the analysis of video game culture.

M e t h o d s . The study employs methods of synthesis, abstraction, grouping, induction, systematization, generalization, and data comparison, along with descriptive analysis of results.

R e s u l t s . Video game culture is a multifaceted phenomenon that integrates technological innovation, aesthetic strategies, and social practices. It encompasses both the development of games and the activities of players, who reinterpret content and create their own narratives. Games are a way for people to share experiences and express themselves. // Video game culture extends beyond content consumption, providing a space for interaction in which games act as a medium for cultural exchange and the expression of collective experience. Paying close attention to how and why video games emerge and spread is an essential part of studying video game culture. Consideration should be given to differences in regional division and national product markers. An effective analysis of video game culture requires an interdisciplinary combination of сultural, ludological, and sociological approaches.

C o n c l u s i o n s . It has been determined that video game culture is a complex part of contemporary culture that encompasses the development, consumption, representation, and transmedial interaction of games with other art forms. It includes communities of players and developers, public perceptions of video games, and their impact on cultural spaces. It has been proven that the video game as a medium is distinguished by interactivity and immersion and is comparable to a Gesamtkunstwerk.

Video games facilitate the formation of digital identities and new forms of corporeality within gameplay. The article argues that studying video game culture requires a comprehensive methodological approach that considers its historical development, sociocultural context, and the specifics of player–game interaction.